Center Console Rattling Fixed!!
 

First of all, this may not be the right place to post this, but I just wanted as many people see this as possible before its moved somewhere else :bonk:


The Problem:
My FR-S's center console started rattling today after diving through some hilly roads in the morning. It continues to rattle until the afternoon. Its giving me a headache considered this is a new car with just over 3,000km on its odometer.

Where:
It seems whenever I have my hand pressing the dash on the top of the center air conditioning ducks, the rattle noise goes away.
If you are experiencing the same issue as me, give it a try and see if it stops. Since its very easy to do.

How:
After a little search on the forum, I started to take the plastic trims off.

1.I'm demonstrating with only one hand here, but you should use both your hands. With your thumbs on the underside of the trim, pull on the plastic piece while using the dash as leverage. It should come off easily.
Once its off, take off the other piece surrounding the head unit by pulling on it as well.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6476/32430464.jpg

2. Undo the two screws circled in red (I already did) and use a thin piece material insert into the gap following the red lines. Pull the air conditioning duct assembly out all together.
http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/8527/73617261.jpg
Here's what it looks like.
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/6213/62717140.jpg

3. Now with something looking like below, I recommend setting things aside and drive around like this to see if the rattle goes away. If not, then it might not be the case here and there's no point to continue. Still, if there were to be a rattle deeper inside the center console, you can here it a lot better now. :lol:
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/6656/57494538.jpg

4. The first time I took the assembly out, three of the four clips circled in red was not even fastened...It may got loose while I took it out, or road vibration, etc but still...the clips themselves aren't that sturdy either.
The duct cover in the red rectangle is secured on the assembly with many clips on the side, but it shakes back and fourth loosely when you touch it. I duck taped them so they don't side around.
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/1767/65158661.jpg

5. Now all its left to do is to put everything back together and hopefully the rattle goes away!

BUMP

I'm doing this over the weekend.

Granted, my primary aggravating rattle is the wiring harness in the passenger door. This morning, it was fine until I made a rapid / high G right corner, then it rattled badly until the next sharp left corner.

this should be move to DIY section.

Thanks for the info!

All was good till you added "hopefully" in the very last sentence.

That's the dashboard, not the center console.

Haha, I wasn't being very encouraging over there was I :confused0068:

It worked very well for me though.

Interested in fixing up the doors as well since we all probably have this problem.
The Scion Repair Manual wasn't very generous about all the details...
If you are doing it soon, requesting a DIY post about it. :bellyroll:

You are correct, but the the noise sure seemed to be coming from the center console at first, the noise can't penetrate the dash board :bonk: